How long have you dreamed of making a video game?

Video game development is a substantial industry, employing over 40,000 people in North America alone. But while many people daydream about working in game development, few have the chops to follow through and take action. We know that's why you're here now: to take action.

These Getting Started pages will introduce you to the world of game development by breaking down some of the complex information. Our goal is to introduce you to career paths, educational options that fit your needs, and advice about how to successfully - and realistically - break into the video game industry.

If you've got the basics down, our homepage has daily news updates and feature articles to keep you in sync with the professional world. Follow the trends, and you'll be a more successful job candidate.

Check out our community forums, too, where you can network with fellow newbies and ask working professionals for their opinionated advice.

To work in game development, you've got to have tenacity. You've got to be willing to work on it every single day. So check in with us often - we'll help you keep tabs.

Here we answer some frequently asked questions from parents whose children want to make video games for a living. See also "Reassuring Parents About Game Degrees" for more information about aspiring video game programmers specifically.

What is game design? What do game designers do? What does a designer need to know? How much money do designers make? What job titles can a game designer have? What types of people or personality traits make good designers? What other resources does GameCareerGuide.com have for me if I want to know more about game design?

What is programming, as it relates to video games? What do programmers do? What does a programmer need to know? How much money do programmers make? What job titles can a game programmer have? What types of people or personality traits make good programmers? What other articles does GameCareerGuide.com if I want to learn more about programming?

What is art and animation, as it relates to video games? What do video game artists do? What does a video game artist need to know? How much money do game artists make? What job titles can an artist have? What types of people or personality traits make good artists? What other resources does GameCareerGuide.com have for me if I want to know more about art and animation?

What is production, as it relates to video games? What do producers do? What job titles can a producer have? What does a producer need to know? How much money do producers make? What types of people or personality traits make good producers? What other resources does GameCareerGuide.com have for me if I want to know more about production?

Ed Magnin, Chair of the Game & Simulation Program at DeVry University's Dallas-Metro campus, gives basic advice about game careers, including topics such as what it takes, career options and trades, and breaking in.

The first step in finding a job in the game industry is to put together a compelling resume, as well as a demo where applicable. This article, written by veteran HR expert McShaffry, serves as a guide to that first important step.